During the pandemic, the expanded Child Tax Credit was a lifeline for millions of families. However, I was one of the many who couldn’t benefit from it.
Why? At 15, I gave my baby to family members. But because the adoption was never finalized, I actually ended up owing child support—and only found out after it had compounded. Because of that debt, I was unfairly denied the Child Tax Credit for the children I later had with my husband.
Today I have a Master’s degree, I’m a second-year law student, and my arrears are paid. But our years of struggle have left a lasting impact on my children. They missed out on the help they needed during their formative years—a loss that can never be fully compensated.
This blog is authored by Tia Simmons, a member of the ABC Coalition’s Parent Advisory Board. Read the full blog here.